Jacksboro Highway (TX Hwy 199) at Lake Worth is exacting a toll on the community with enormous hazards and economic bottlenecks. In the three videos below, Michael Dallas discusses the issues. The full report submitted to our leadership in Texas is found below.

Deadly Hazardous & Economic Bottleneck

January 28, 2016

Deadly hazards

Three major “death” locations on Jacksboro Highway (TX Hwy 199). 1) A deadly westbound curve entering the bridge from the east, 2) a deadly eastbound curve entering the bridge from the west, and 3) a dangerous intersection long overdue for improvement.

Death Trap 1 - Ridiculous TXDOT lane design.

The eastbound lake of 199 prior to entering the Lake Worth bridge contains three design failures which create injuries and death. The TXDOT design failures of this area include sharp curves, poor tilt of the road, and a “deadhead” barrier unnecessarily jutting at oncoming traffic.

Death Trap 2 - Dangerous curve on west side of bridge with no barriers.

Deaths, injuries, and close calls occur regularly on the westbound entry to the Lake Worth bridge where pposing traffic is separated by a 4” high slab of concrete.

Death Trap 3 - Dangerous intersection long overdue for improvement.

The intersection of Jacksboro Highway (TX Highway 199) and Surfside Drive represents the “worst of the worst” in intersection design. Heavy traffic loads, high speeds, access roads on a non-raised highway, stop sign conflict with light, and enormous driver confusion make this intersection of the worst in Texas. Drivers at this intersection continually risk sudden death from just waiting for the light to change.

Economic bottlenecks

Several community redevelopment efforts - both public and private - are being held “economic hostage” to the insufficient improvements at the intersection of Surfside and Jacksboro Highway (TX Hwy 199). Redevelopment projects which would exponentially increase the traffic flow through this intersection cannot be pursued until the intersection is improved.

Surfside Drive - Casino Beach Revitalization hindered

Commercial revitalization efforts at Casino Beach should be put on hold until the intersection at Surfside and Highway 199 can accommodate the increased traffic flow. (This is an image of the now abandoned revitalization project by the Patterson Group.)

Surfside Drive - Private redevelopment hindered

The City of Fort Worth is in the process of annexing the (“ETJ”) along the Jacksboro Highway corridor as well as installing services of water and sewer. High quality private development will require that the intersection of Surfside Drive and Jacksboro Highway (TX Hwy 199) be adequate to accommodate significantly increased traffic flows.

Economic bottleneck 2 - Unfinished raised highway in the Town of Lake Worth

The Town of Lake Worth currently snarls traffic both directions with numerous traffic lights over the two miles of Jacksboro Highway (TX Hwy 199) that runs through it. These delays exact enormous economic costs in terms of driver time and fuel waste.

Problem is growing daily - Hwy 199 is the ONLY route

Jacksoboro Highway (TX Hwy 199) is heavily used and has become inadequate for current growth. Explosive growth is overwhelming the road.

Counts in 2013 by TXDOT indicate over 70,000 cars flow through this stretch of TX Hwy 199 each day.

There are only two routes from Fort Worth to the area west of Lake Worth and Eagle Mountain Lake - Silver Creek and Jacksboro Highway (199) with Jacksboro Highway carrying the vast majority of the load.

Enormous development is proceeding in this area increasing traffic exponentially.